Efficient utilization of multiple radio access technologies in a communications device

Abstract

A communications device, and a method for efficient utilization of multiple radio access technologies in the communications device, is disclosed. The communications device includes a plurality of radios, where each of the plurality of radios is communicable with a respective one of a plurality of radio access technologies. The communications device attempts to extract control channel information from a radio access technology assigned a highest priority in a first geographic area by a radio associated with the highest priority radio access technology in the first geographic area and, if the control channel information for the highest priority radio access technology in the first geographic area is extracted by the radio associated with the highest priority radio access technology in the first geographic area, the communications device does not enable a second radio associated with a second lower priority radio access technology in the first geographic area.

1. A method for utilization of multiple radio access technologies in a communications device, comprising the steps of:
 generating a dynamic prioritization list assigning a highest priority and a second lower priority to radio access technologies based on a location of the communications device in a first geographic area; 
 powering down a second radio in the communications device associated with the second lower priority radio access technology in the first geographic area when a defined battery level is reached for a battery of the communications device; 
 attempting based on the prioritization list to extract control channel information comprising cell site identities, frequencies available, and access timing details from a radio access technology assigned the highest priority by a radio in the communications device associated with the highest priority radio access technology in the first geographic area, 
 wherein the highest priority is assigned to the radio access technology dynamically based on a network identity of the radio access technology in the first geographic area to avoid roaming to a roaming network, and 
 if the control channel information for the highest priority radio access technology in the first geographic area is extracted by the radio associated with the highest priority radio access technology in the first geographic area, maintaining the powered down state of the second radio in the communications device. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 if the control channel information for the highest priority radio access technology in the first geographic area is not extracted by the radio associated with the highest priority radio access technology in the first geographic area, attempting to extract control channel information from the second lower priority radio access technology in the first geographic area by the second radio associated with the second highest priority radio access technology in the first geographic area and powering down the radio associated with the highest priority radio access technology in the first geographic area. 
 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 entering a second geographic area separate from the first geographic area by the communications device; 
 generating a dynamic prioritization list assigning a highest priority and a second lower priority to radio access technologies based on the location of the communications device in the second geographic area; 
 attempting based on the prioritization list to extract control channel information from the radio access technology assigned a highest priority in the second geographic area by a radio in the communications device associated with the highest priority radio access technology in the second geographic area; and 
 if the control channel information for the highest priority radio access technology in the second geographic area is extracted by the radio associated with the highest priority radio access technology in the second geographic area, maintaining the powered down state of a second radio in the communications device associated with a second lower priority radio access technology in the second geographic area. 
 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 3 , further comprising the steps of:
 if the control channel information for the highest priority radio access technology in the second geographic area is not extracted by the radio associated with the highest priority radio access technology in the second geographic area, attempting to extract control channel information from the second lower priority radio access technology in the second geographic area by the second radio associated with the second highest priority radio access technology in the second geographic area and powering down the radio associated with the highest priority radio access technology in the second geographic area. 
 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 3 , further comprising the step of powering down the radio in the communications device associated with the highest priority radio access technology in the first geographic area. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of assigning the highest priority to a radio access technology in the first geographic area by the communications device based on historical data stored in a database in the communications device associated with prior communications in the first geographic area by the communications device. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising the step of maintaining the dynamic prioritization list in the communications device. 
     
     
       8. A communications device, comprising:
 a plurality of radios, wherein each of the plurality of radios is communicable with a respective one of a plurality of radio access technologies; 
 wherein the communications device generates a dynamic prioritization list assigning a highest priority and a second lower priority to radio access technologies based on a location of the communications device in a first geographic area, 
 wherein a second radio in the communications device associated with the second lower priority radio access technology in the first geographic area is powered down when a defined battery level is reached for a battery of the communications device; 
 wherein the communications device attempts based on the prioritization list to extract control channel information comprising cell site identities, frequencies available, and access timing details from a radio access technology assigned the highest priority by a radio associated with the highest priority radio access technology in the first geographic area, 
 wherein the communications device dynamically assigns the highest priority to a radio access technology in the first geographic area to avoid roaming to a roaming network, and 
 if the control channel information for the highest priority radio access technology in the first geographic area is extracted by the radio associated with the highest priority radio access technology in the first geographic area, the communications device maintains the powered down state of the second radio associated with a second lower priority radio access technology in the first geographic area. 
 
     
     
       9. The communications device according to  claim 8 , wherein if the control channel information for the highest priority radio access technology in the first geographic area is not extracted by the radio associated with the highest priority radio access technology in the first geographic area, the communications device attempts to extract control channel information from the second lower priority radio access technology in the first geographic area by the second radio associated with the second highest priority radio access technology in the first geographic area and powers down the radio associated with the highest priority radio access technology in the first geographic area. 
     
     
       10. The communications device according to  claim 8 , wherein when the communications device enters a second geographic area separate from the first geographic area,
 the communications device generates a dynamic prioritization list assigning a highest priority and a second lower priority to radio access technologies based on the location of the communications device in the second geographic area; 
 the communications device attempts based on the prioritization list to extract control channel information from the radio access technology assigned a highest priority in the second geographic area by a radio in the communications device associated with the highest priority radio access technology in the second geographic area; and 
 if the control channel information for the highest priority radio access technology in the second geographic area is extracted by the radio associated with the highest priority radio access technology in the second geographic area, the communications device maintains the powered down state of a second radio in the communications device associated with a second lower priority radio access technology in the second geographic area. 
 
     
     
       11. The communications device according to  claim 10 , wherein if the control channel information for the highest priority radio access technology in the second geographic area is not extracted by the radio associated with the highest priority radio access technology in the second geographic area, the communications device attempts to extract control channel information from the second lower priority radio access technology in the second geographic area by the second radio associated with the second highest priority radio access technology in the second geographic area and powers down the radio associated with the highest priority radio access technology in the second geographic area. 
     
     
       12. The communications device according to  claim 10 , wherein the communications device powers down the radio in the communications device associated with the highest priority radio access technology in the first geographic area. 
     
     
       13. The communications device according to  claim 8 , wherein the communications device assigns the highest priority to a radio access technology in the first geographic area based on historical data stored in a database in the communications device associated with prior communications in the first geographic area by the communications device. 
     
     
       14. The communications device according to  claim 13 , further comprising an access network prioritization table stored in the communications device and
 wherein the dynamic prioritization list of the plurality of radio access technologies is stored in the access network prioritization table.